Did you vote in our recently completed “Reader’s Choice” awards?

I wanted to…it was my idea in the first place to publish a ballot asking our readers to select their favorites when it comes to food, services, health, shopping and arts/entertainment in the Roanoke-Chowan area.

Congratulations to all the winners…by my count (and I was the one who put Saturday’s special section together) there were 81 of you.

I totally agree with some of the top selections…others I would have changed, but that’s not to say those who did win are not deserving. We have some mighty fine businesses here locally.

But if I had cast my vote, here’s what my ballot would have looked like (note, I didn’t vote for some categories because they don’t apply to me):

Shopping:

Gift cards – Wally World (aka Wal Mart)

Men’s clothing – My wife buys all my clothes.

Electronics – Radio Shack

Grocery Store – Lowes for the basics; Piggly Wiggly for the meats

Hardware – ACE of Ahoskie

Health & Fitness:

Pharmacy – DrugCo

Family doctor – Ahoskie Family Physicians

Eats & Drinks:

Bar: Chubbies

BBQ: I’m partial to both Tar Heel and Bunn’s

Breakfast – Bojangles

Chinese – Little Panda

Deli – Piggly Wiggly

Hamburger – Tough choice, but I prefer Andy’s

Hot Dog – Easy choice…Walter’s

Italian – Franco’s…although I was sad to see Lasca’s leave Ahoskie

Pizza – Ed Copeland and Pizza Inn top my list

Seafood – John’s

Sub Sandwich – Subway

Services:

Bank – James Eure at the State Employees Credit Union guards all my money (he keeps it in a thimble).

Cellular Service – US Cellular

Commercial Printer – The News-Herald, of course!

Dry Cleaners – Jernigan’s

Electrician – Mike Hewitt

Plumber – H.T. Bryant Plumbing Services…he’s a great guy and he’s a Bryant!

Hairstylist – I don’t have one, but I do have a barber – the Barnes brothers (Luther and Johnny) over in Murfreesboro.

Insurance Agent – Johnny Jenkins and his trusty sidekicks, Patricia and Maria.

Photographer – Me, of course!

Arts & Entertainment:

Artist – Doug Eubank

Band – Daughtry (Chris does count; he was born and raised in Northampton County).

Live Theater – Gallery

Movie Rental – Movie Time

Radio Station – WSLF – 106.5 FM (home of “John Boy and Billy” in the morning).

TV Station – WRAL or WVEC

Best Over-all:

Customer Service: ACE

Friendliest Employees: Andy’s

Curb Appeal – Added Touch Florist

Volunteer Group – PAWS

Community Service: Citizens Against OLF

Cal Bryant is Editor of the Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald and the Gates County Index. He can be contacted at cal.bryant@r-cnews.com or 252-332-7207.